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In the AFC U23 Asian Cup knockout match on April 26, the big dark horse Indonesia defeated South Korea 11-10 in a penalty shootout and advanced to the semifinals with an aggregate score of 13-12.
The dramatic match marked a change in the Asian football landscape, with traditional powerhouse South Korea out of the game and Indonesia representing the rise of Southeast Asian football.
The game was tortuous and thrilling, and South Korea was out of the tournament
In this Asian Cup, South Korea, as the defending champion and favorite to win the championship, won all three games in the group stage and qualified first in the group. Indonesia, on the other hand, reached the quarterfinals for the first time, which can be described as a big dark horse. As a result, most predict that South Korea should be able to beat Indonesia to reach the semi-finals.
The course of the competition was unexpected. In the first half, Indonesia led 2-1, with Struk scoring twice. South Korea's goal came from an own goal from the Indonesian defender.
This shows that Indonesia's offensive is very strong, while South Korea's offensive is insufficient. What's even more shocking is that in the first half, Indonesia beat South Korea in terms of possession, shots on goal and other statistics. No one would have imagined that South Korea, the favourite, would be pressed by Indonesia.
Indonesia continued to dominate in the second half, with two shots on goal that almost opened the score. South Korea equalized with tenacity and went into extra time 2-2. In the penalty shootout, South Korea's star player Lee Kang-hee missed a penalty and Indonesia won 11-10.
The match was full of reversals and surprises, leaving everyone stunned. The strong South Korea finally missed the semi-finals and missed the Olympics. As Asian giants, their dismal exit this time was unexpected.
Indonesian football has risen as an emerging dark horse
In contrast, the victory is significant for Indonesia. As the football representative of Southeast Asia, Indonesia has never had a good result in the Asian Cup in the past. Their football has always been underdogs and is seen as the second tier in Asia.
But in this Asian Cup, Indonesia proved itself with an excellent performance. In the group stage, they managed to beat Australia and Jordan to finish second in the group. This is already Indonesia's best result in the Asian Cup.
And in the match with South Korea, Indonesia was completely upset. Not only did they outwhelm their opponents statistically, but they were also very good on the offensive end. Struck's brace was a key figure in leading Indonesia to victory.
Indonesia's rise is inseparable from the country's booming football. In recent years, the Indonesian government and enterprises have been vigorously supporting the football industry, and the scale of the Super League has also been expanding, and a number of excellent players have been trained. Those efforts finally paid off at the Asian Cup.
Beating South Korea in the knockout round has already made history in Indonesian football. Next, it remains to be seen whether they can go all the way and finish well in the Asian Cup. Regardless of the outcome, Indonesia has proven itself as a dark horse in Asian football.
The Asian football landscape is changing
The match not only affected South Korea and Indonesia, but also signaled a change in the entire Asian football landscape.
For more than a decade, Japan and South Korea have dominated Asian football for a long time. They have won the Asian Cup and the AFC Champions League many times, and are the two undisputed powerhouses. Representatives of Southeast Asia and West Asia have not been able to shake the status of Japan and South Korea for a long time.
But in the last two years, the situation has begun to change. Japanese football is in a slump, while South Korea is also in a significant decline. At the same time, some countries in Southeast Asia and West Asia are highly motivated, and their players have improved significantly, and they have begun to make their mark in the Asian arena.
In the group stage of this Asian Cup, we saw Saudi Arabia defeat Japan to win the championship, and Vietnam defeated South Korea to win the championship. And now, Indonesia has beaten South Korea to advance to the semi-finals. This undoubtedly heralds the arrival of a new order, and Asian football will be more multipolar in the future.
Countries other than Japan and South Korea are rapidly strengthening their own strength by improving the level of professional leagues, increasing investment in youth training, and introducing foreign coaches.
The pace of progress has been particularly rapid in countries in South-East and West Asia. In the coming years, we expect to see more and more teams from different countries making their mark in Asia's top competitions.
This Asian Cup has shown the changing landscape of Asian football. The end of the Korean era and the rise of Indonesia herald a new competitive situation.
In the future, Asian football will be more competitive and interesting. Let's wait and see the further impact of this wave of rookies and bring us more surprises!
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